April 23, 2026: Energy storage scientist Shirley Meng is saying farewell to the US to become the next VP for industry and distinguished university professor at her alma mater, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore.

NTU confirmed on April 22 that Meng, most recently chief scientist at the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science and a professor at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, would take up the post on July 1.

She will succeed Lam Khin Yong.

Meng said: “Twenty-five years ago, I left Singapore for the US, embarking on a journey that would define my life as a scientist and an educator.” 

She said her quarter century in the US — at MIT, UF, UC San Diego, UChicago and Argonne — had been an incredible masterclass. 

“I am profoundly grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and students who challenged me to think bigger, take risks and push the boundaries of what is possible in energy storage science. Science has no borders, and neither should innovation. I have always believed that technical breakthroughs are most impactful when they serve as ‘scientific diplomacy’.”

Meng said NTU was where her passion for materials science was first sparked by a “simple” magnetic levitation experiment. 

“I look forward to maintaining my connections with the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago, UChicago Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering during the transition and continuing the critical work of the Energy Transition Network.”

Meng is an elected Fellow of the Electrochemical Society, the Materials Research Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

NTU president Ho Teck Hua said: “Energy storage is one of the defining technological challenges of our time, and Shirley is one of the world’s foremost authorities on it.

“Her ability to bridge cutting-edge research with industry application makes her the ideal person to lead our industry engagement efforts.”

In 2023, Meng was honoured by the Electrochemical Society for her work on battery tech innovations.

Last year, she was presented with the Shep Wolsky 2025 Battery Innovator award for her work on battery materials and energy storage.